Preserving Heritage

Jay Nachman, SCT ’81, recently told me that he and two other Owls–Irv Hurwitz, LAW ’84, and Jannine Medrana, CLA ’00–work in prominent positions in the National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH) in Philadelphia. Hurwitz is the director of institutional advancement, Medrana is the director of donor relations and Nachman is the director of public relations.

The Owls of Madagascar

On February 14, The Philadelphia Inquirer featured a story on Robert Schooley, SCT ’86, and Mark McCorkle, SCT ’85. The two television and film majors are now executive producers for the popular Nickelodeon program The Penguins of Madagascar. The International Animated Film Society honored Schooley and McCorkle with an Annie Award.

An Owl on Idol

Due to the sheer discomfort of witnessing people’s hopes dashed on national television, I can’t watch the hit  TV show American Idol. But fans of Idol might recall Claire Fuller, a student from Philadelphia who auditioned in Boston. Fuller is a senior in the School of Communications and Theater at Temple–and she made the cut.

‘Psycho’ About Hitchcock

For fans of Alfred Hitchcock, 2010 will be a landmark year. The classic suspense film Psycho celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2010, which also is the 30th anniversary of the director’s death.

It also will be a banner year for John W. Law, SCT ’88, author of Alfred Hitchcock: The Icon Years. Law’s book will be released by Aplomb Publishing in January.

Meanwhile, at the Kennedy Center…

With his vast wardrobe of Temple gear, I would bet that alumnus Bill Cosby probably is the Owl who has granted Temple the most primetime television coverage—aside from the NCAA, of course. Last night, Cosby accepted the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. He’s the 12th awardee to be honored for humor with a social impact. Unfortunately, his Temple gear didn’t make an appearance.

New Goals

Though there might not be a Temple alumnus to root for in the Phillies’ postseason, Henry Burris, SCT ’98, a former Temple quarterback, earned a CFL (Canadian Football League) championship ring in 2008. Burris is quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders, who won the 2008 Grey Cup championship. He also was named the Grey Cup MVP for the 2008 season.

And the Nominees Are

Both Ross Katz, SCT ’93, and Christopher Manley, SCT ’94, were nominated for 2009 Emmy Awards. Katz, who was nominated in the “Outstanding Director” category, directed Taking Chance for HBO Films. Manley was recognized for the AMC series Mad Men in the “Outstanding Cinematography for a One-Hour Series” category.

Change of a Dress

Would you dare to tell Clint Eastwood he needed to change? Lynda Foote, SCT ’84¸ has done so more than once. As costume supervisor for nearly 40 Hollywood films, including The Good German; Good Night, and Good Luck; Mystic River; and Million Dollar Baby, she has worked with actors such as Eastwood, George Clooney, Hilary Swank and Sean Penn.

NFOwls

NFOwls

The 2009 NFL season begins September 10. Temple alumni Raheem Brock, SBM ’08, defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts; Terrance Knighton, CLA ’09, defensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars; and Jason McKie, SCT ’03, fullback for the Chicago Bears, will be on the field this fall.